Pre-arrival information for international Students

As an international student you need to prepare for living in Sweden by arranging housing, insurance, a residence permit and more.

Residence permit

Students from countries outside the EU/EEA

In general, all students from countries outside the EU/EEA need to have a residence permit for studies during a period longer than three months at a university or college in Sweden.

When admitted, and the fee has been paid, apply for your Swedish visa as soon as possible, at the nearest Swedish Embassy or Consulate.

Application forms are available at the Swedish Embassy/Consulate or from the website of the Swedish Migration Board, www.migrationsverket.se External link.

Applications for residence permits are processed by the Swedish Migration Board.

Students from EU/EEA countries

If you work, study or have sufficient means to support yourself, you automatically have right of residence in Sweden and therefore need not register with or apply for a residence permit at the Swedish Migration Agency.

Insurance

Medical Insurance – Erasmus Mundus students

Erasmus Mundus scholars have got a medical insurance included in their scholarship. Please contact the Coordinating university for more information or ask your LTU programme coordinator.
Students without Erasmus Mundus scholarship have to arrange the medical insurance themselves.

Property insurance

It is also recommended that you get a property insurance that covers costs if you, for example, cause any damage to other people’s property or in your accommodation. This type of an insurance should be arranged before coming to Sweden, as most Erasmus Mundus would not be able to arrange in Sweden.

Personal injury insurance

All students, irrespective of nationality, who are registered for studies at LTU are automatically insured by the Kammarkollegiet Personal Injury Insurance. This insurance is valid during school hours, and on your journey to and from school. If an incident has occurred during any of those times, please go by Service Point and they will give you the form that you need to fill in.

General Information

Climate

Winters in northern Sweden are rather cold, with lot of snow. Summers are usually relatively warm. In autumn and spring there is occasional rain. Average temperature in Lulea in winter is about -15°C and in summer +18°C. The short but spectacular spring and autumn help to counterbalance the effect of the winter. During the summer it never gets dark, and the sun does not set at all for some time. During the darkest weeks of winter there are four hours of full day-light.

There are good opportunities for winter sports such as ice-skating, ice-hockey or cross-country skiing.

Clothing

Since the weather is very cold you should bring supplies of warm clothing such as coats, sweaters, warm socks, long underwear etc. You will also need at least one pair of comfortable and warm boots or walking shoes as well as casual shoes.

You will find that Swedish students dress more formally for student occasions and events. If you would like to attend these events you should bring something more formal to wear, like a suit or a dress.

Work opportunities

EU/EEA citizens have the right to work in Sweden without a work and residence permit.
As a non EU/EEA citizen you have the right to work as long as you have your student visa.
However, it can be difficult to find a job, knowledge of the Swedish language is essential.

Estimated personal expenses

What kind of living expenses budget should you plan for?

Food	2500 SEK/month
Accommodation	3000 SEK/month
Course literature	800 SEK/month
Telephone, newspapers etc	400 SEK/month
Local travel	300 SEK/month
Medical and personal care	200 SEK/month
Clothes, hobbies and amusements	800 SEK/month
TOTAL	app. 8000 SEK/month